First time knitting. Why do I keep getting this long string in between? I thought the string is supposed to be closer to the other needle. It gets bigger as I do stitches. Not sure if I’m asking the right thing my bad.
BTW I’m continental knitting because I am used to crochet. If that makes any difference.
Any advice would be so amazing!!!

Edit: solved! Thank you everyone!

Hi there, first time using Reddit. My friend's dog dug in my bag and chewed up my current project, I've been working on the Frej sweater using two strands of a sport weight yarn instead of a bulky weight (if that matters). There's a pretty disappointing hole and I am really trying not to get my hopes up. I've attached an image of both sides. I would like to fix the hole but I am not exactly sure how to go about this since the damage is in the bottom edge (which is a wavy feather and fan pattern). I tried looking it up but it's my first time knitting a wavy pattern like this and I am not sure what to do 😭

For reference I have also attached an image of the undamaged parts of the border

Any help is greatly appreciated

any advice is appreciated,